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Nicolas Cage was never paid for film that won him an Oscar: director
It Happened in Hollywood podcast, “Leaving Las Vegas” writer-director Mike Figgis revealed that he, as well as Cage, didn’t see so much as a cent hit their bank accounts after the film.“Nicolas and I never got paid,” Figgis said.Figgis claims he was due $100,000 for his directing fee, which he never received.“They said the film never went into profit,” he said of the now-defunct Lumiere Pictures, which financed the $4 million film.The film, adapted from the 1990 John O’Brien novel of the same name, follows Cage’s character Ben Sanderson, a Los Angeles screenwriter who moves to Las Vegas and endures a grueling battle with alcoholismIt raked in $32 million globally, according to Box Office Mojo. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including best director, best-adapted screenplay, best actress for Elisabeth Shue, and best actor for Cage, which he won.Figgis isn’t dwelling over the lack of compensation over 27 years later.“Whatever,” he said.
